Alexander Tielens is a professor of astronomy at both Leiden University and the University of Maryland. He has held appointments at the University of California, Berkeley, NASA Ames Research Center, the University of Groningen, and the Dutch Space Agency; was the project scientist of the HIFI instrument on board of the Herschel Space Observatory; and was the NASA project scientist of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and was awarded the Spinoza Prize in 2012.

Klappentext

This advanced textbook bridges the gap between molecular physics, astronomy, and physical chemistry. Linking the microscopic physical and chemical processes in space that produce the macroscopic behaviour of the Universe, this overview of molecular astrophysics is ideal for students at advanced undergraduate and graduate level, and beyond.

Inhalt

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Introduction to chemistry; 3. Molecular spectroscopy; 4. Molecular emission and absorption; 5. Chemical thermodynamics; 6. Gas phase chemical processes; 7. Chemistry on interstellar grain surfaces; 8. Physics and chemistry of large molecules; 9. Diffuse clouds; 10. Molecular clouds; 11. Star formation; 12. The aromatic universe.